Calif. Schools Flunk Education Group's Ratings

California received an overall grade of F, ranking 41st nationally, from StudentsFirst, a Sacramento-based group run by Michelle Rhee, the former schools chancellor in Washington, D.C., whose outspoken views have polarized those who share her focus on improving the nation's schools.

Her group's "report card" concentrates "singularly on the education policies in place in each of our states," Rhee said in a statement. "And when we look solely at policy, it's clear that we have a long way to go toward improving our education system in America."

Critics said the ratings say more about Rhee's views than about the state of the nation's schools.